Parents' Guide to

Free Willy

Movie PG 1993 112 minutes
Free Willy Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Charles Cassady Jr. By Charles Cassady Jr. , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

A wayward boy befriends a moody killer whale.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 8+

Based on 6 parent reviews

age 7+

too much unnecessary raw facts of life

The main character has been abandoned by his mother. My 5-year-old did not need to know that mothers sometime abandon kids who need to live on the streets. Running from the police, breaking in, spray painting: all not behaviors that a child should see. I'm just overwhelmed by producer's stupidity in thinking: Let's show something bad and then tell them it's bad so that they can learn what is good.
age 10+

Wait a Few Years and Just Listen to the Soundtrack For Now

Could my six year old watch this? Sure. Will she like it? Probably. Thing is, they are so impressionable at this age and they are paying more attention. It's not that I'm trying to shield her from the realities of the world but I also don't need to force some of the thematic elements and visuals, of those realities, into her thought process either. I can't wait to watch this and other nostalgic movies from my childhood but when it comes to this particular movie, let's be honest on what makes this one nostalgic - the soundtrack. Just put "Hold Me" and "Right Here (Human Nature Mix)" - not the original, on your kid's playlist and teach them the ways.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (23 ):

Free Willy's plot is predictable, none-too-original, and the title gives away the end. But FREE WILLY works swimmingly, thanks to well paced, rousing direction and a fine ensemble cast, led by the very good child actor Richter. Even with its excessive ecological propaganda, the script buoys up with surprisingly credible bonding between the alienated delinquent and a penned-up creature who, like King Kong or E.T., isn't bad; he just wants to go home. It's a cheerable, feel-good moment when the father joins his adopted son in the finale.

Longtime screen villain Michael Ironside plays the standard Hollywood-issue evil businessman, and parents should be aware of the animal-liberation indoctrination in the premise. At least the filmmakers followed their own preaching, and campaigned for the freeing of Keiko, the actual killer whale who stands in for an animatronic Willy in many scenes.

Movie Details

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